Former Chorister to bring Olympic torch to Liverpool Cathedral

July 27

A former Cathedral chorister and Lay Clerk who was nominated to take part in the Olympic torch relay, will bring his torch to Liverpool Cathedral on the 10th and 11th of August.

Visitors will have the chance to hold the torch and have their photograph taken with it in return for a small donation to the Cathedral Foundation. The torch will be available between 8am to 8pm on both days. The torch visit also coincides with the annual Cathedral abseil, which the public are welcome to come along and watch.

The torch belongs to Rob Jackson, former Cathedral chorister and Lay Clerk, and now Nurse Clinician at the Royal Liverpool University Hospital emergency department.

Rob was nominated to carry the torch through Huyton in recognition of his work teaching young people in Liverpool about the health implications of knife crime. Rob’s work has seen him speak to over 15,000 school children across Liverpool and Merseyside showing graphic real photos of cases that he has dealt with at the Royal. This has led to a twenty eight percent reduction in knife injuries presenting to the Royal in the past twelve months. Rob also raised £8500 for Marie Curie Cancer care whilst running the Marathon de Sables which saw him run 154 miles across the Sahara desert whilst carrying a two stone pack.

Rob said, “Carrying the torch was amazing, and I was really touched by the support from all of my friends at the Cathedral. When it was announced that I would be carrying the torch, I even received a phone call from Ronald Woan, my first choirmaster who at the age of 92 took the time to wish me well. I also had an email from a former chorister Dave Gudgeon, who now lives in Melbourne Australia, to say that he was staying up with his family to watch the relay live. I am really glad that I can give something back by bringing the torch here to help raise money for the Cathedral Foundation.”

The Cathedral Foundation helps keep the Cathedral free to visitors and helps the Cathedral develop its work in the community. For more information about the Cathedral Foundation please contact Fundraising Manager Rebecca Bentham rebecca.bentham@liverpoolcathedral.org.uk 0151 702 7226